Kamil Khan, Executive Director (he/him/his) Portland, OR
Kamil Khan, a Pakistani-born first-generation immigration to the United States, has dedicated his professional life to the human rights sector. He brings 8 years of experience from the refugee sector including in camp management, status determination, and refugee resettlement. Kamil's grassroots activism goes back to his undergraduate days at the University of Houston where he joined Students for Democratic Society (SDS). He started organizing for immigrant rights, anti-war efforts, and Palestinian liberation with SDS. After obtaining a Master's of Public Administration from Indiana University, Kamil worked for a year providing capacity building to refugee leaders along the Thailand-Myanmar border. He followed that by working with the United Nations where he processed asylum cases from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kamil brings work experience from five countries in two continents, is fluent in three languages, and has cross-sector collaboration experience both domestically and internationally. On his free time, Kamil likes to make hip hop music, watch NBA basketball, and explore the culinary scene of the Pacific Northwest.
David De La Torre, Healthy Climate Program Director (he/him/él) Eugene, OR
David Joined Oregon PSR in 2021. He grew up in South Los Angeles but most recently lived in Iowa where he earned his MA in history at the University of Iowa in 2016. As a community planner he led town halls and listening sessions for the re-imagining the campus safety plan at the University of Iowa, and co-led the HUD funded flood resilience action plan (FRAP) for the city of Coralville which received and environmental planning award by the Iowa Chapter of the American Planning Association in 2021. During the 2020 Iowa Caucuses, he was a field organizer for the Julián Castro Presidential Campaign and volunteered for several other local campaigns in eastern Iowa as both a campaign advisor and canvassing volunteer. He is a proud member of the Latino Network’s [email protected] Cohort 11 in Oregon. As OPSR's Healthy Climate Program Director, he continues to work in coalition and in community to address climate, health, and environmental justice issues as well as building leadership in the movement.
Samantha Hernandez, Climate Justice Organizer (she/her/hers) Portland, OR
Samantha joined Oregon PSR’s staff in May of 2021 as our Climate Justice Organizer. Her efforts are focused on supporting campaigns and coalitions advocating for climate justice and a just transition to clean renewable energy for all. Samantha works to support coalitions such as Stand Up To Oil, Power Past Fracked Gas, Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance, and the Oregon Just Transition Alliance. She graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a bachelor’s degree in hispanic studies and environmental studies. After Miami, Samantha considers Portland to be a second home. The enriching friendships she has made while interning at local organizations like Portland Harbor Community Coalition, Portland VOZ, and Growing Gardens has greatly informed her perspectives on the importance of frontline community-led action and intersectional environmentalism.
Carina Perez Europa, Clean Air Organizer, Marion County (she/her/hers) Keizer, OR
Carina works as Oregon PSR’s Clean Air Organizer in Marion County advocating for responsible alternatives to incineration of medical and municipal waste. Prior to Oregon PSR, Carina worked for Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN) as a field organizer for the May 2019 Salem-Keizer School Board races. She also served as Communications Director for Bill Burgess' campaign for Marion County Commissioner and has volunteered with Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and more. A lifelong Oregonian, Carina is passionate about working together with communities to ensure that everyone has a safe, healthy place to live
Jess Gasper Jr., Membership Manager, (he/him/his) Salem, OR
Jess has served as President of the Oregon Marshallese Community, Member of the state's Health PartnerSHIP Committee, Financial Task Force for the City of Salem, Advisory Member of Higher Education, and Executive Member of Oregon Pacific Islanders Coalition. Before he joined OMCA in 2018, Jess co-founded an Advocacy Group-- the Oregon Bikini Organization-- which advocates for victims of the nuclear tests done in the Marshall Islands from 1946-1958. Jess himself is Bikinian, and has dedicated the last 5 years of his life to bringing to light the injustice of the Marshall Islands, and the struggles of Marshallese living in the United States. Jess comes from the Insurance and Financial Industry, owning an insurance agency for over a decade prior to community organizing and working in non-profits. Jess lives in Salem with his wife Philma, 3 kids, and puppy Ava. His oldest will be attending Oregon State University this fall.
Anna Kahler, Communications Manager, (she/her/hers) Portland, OR
Anna (like sauna) joined Oregon PSR in the summer of 2022 as the communications manager. As a deep nerd she has a love for learning new information and sharing her favorite facts with anyone who will listen. She is excited to support the amazing work Oregon PSR does and amplify their messaging to a broader audience. Anna comes to PSR with 7 years of experience in community organizing in Chicago, IL and Portland, OR. Her organizing work is always centered around community members as she finds great joy in uplifting others and bringing people together to create change. Anna graduated from Lewis and Clark College with a degree in Art History and Political Economy. She finds the visual expression of movements for change to be infinitely fascinating and is excited to apply her knowledge and skills to OPSR’s communication campaigns.